Guaranteed (Level 42 album)
Encyclopedia
Guaranteed is the ninth studio album by the British musical group Level 42
, released in 1991, their first album of the 1990s. The album was released by RCA
records and it was the first Level 42 studio album released by a label other than Polydor.
following his departure from the band). Several songs were co-written with lyricists Drew Barfield and George M. Green. Guaranteed was also the first Level 42 album to be released following the death of guitarist Alan Murphy
(who had taken over from Gould for Staring at the Sun
and related tours).
The lineup credits for the album listed all of the musicians involved rather than clearly defining the separation between band and guest players. This reflected the ongoing personnel shifts within the band. All cover art and inlay photos implied that the band consisted of Mark King
, Mike Lindup
and Gary Husband
plus a guitarist, but was less clear on the latter's identity - inlay photos featured Allan Holdsworth
while cover artwork featured Jakko Jakszyk
. In practise, Holdsworth (who had played with the band during its recent London residency at the Hammersmith Apollo) only contributed electric guitar solos to five of the album's songs in the studio - "Seven Years", "A Kinder Eye
", "She Can't Help Herself", "If You Were Mine" and "With A Little Love". Band associate Dominic Miller
contributed all rhythm guitar work (as he had done for Staring at the Sun
). Jakszyk (formerly with 64 Spoons
and a top session guitarist) played no part in recording the album, but was hired for touring and promotional work and hence featured in the album artwork and the promotional video clips for "Guaranteed", "Overtime" and "My Father's Shoes".
Due to Mike Lindup's absence from many of the sessions, a high proportion of the keyboard parts for Guaranteed were played by drummer Gary Husband (including the piano solo on "Her Big Day") although Lindup would later overdub solos. Husband would also expand his songwriting contribution, including writing the song ("If You Were Mine" on his own. Husband would leave Level 42 following this album (to be replaced by the band's original drummer Phil Gould
) although he would return to the band in 1999.
The single "Guaranteed" placed 17th in the UK single charts in 1991 and had two versions of its music video produced. The song "A Kinder Eye" was dedicated to the memory of Frances Robblee, the mother-in-law of lyricist George M. Green.
Single charts
Level 42
Level 42 are an English pop rock and jazz-funk band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s.The band gained fame for their high-calibre musicianship—in particular that of Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the...
, released in 1991, their first album of the 1990s. The album was released by RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
records and it was the first Level 42 studio album released by a label other than Polydor.
Overview
Guaranteed was the first Level 42 album without a songwriting contribution from former member Boon Gould (who had contributed lyrics to some songs for the 1988 album Staring at the SunStaring at the Sun (Level 42 album)
Staring at the Sun is the eighth studio album released by the British pop band Level 42, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse by Kevin...
following his departure from the band). Several songs were co-written with lyricists Drew Barfield and George M. Green. Guaranteed was also the first Level 42 album to be released following the death of guitarist Alan Murphy
Alan Murphy
Alan Murphy was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988 he joined the group Level 42 as a full time band member, and played with them until his death in 1989...
(who had taken over from Gould for Staring at the Sun
Staring at the Sun (Level 42 album)
Staring at the Sun is the eighth studio album released by the British pop band Level 42, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse by Kevin...
and related tours).
The lineup credits for the album listed all of the musicians involved rather than clearly defining the separation between band and guest players. This reflected the ongoing personnel shifts within the band. All cover art and inlay photos implied that the band consisted of Mark King
Mark King (musician)
Mark King is an English musician. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist of the band, Level 42. In the early 1980s King popularized the 1970s-era slap and pop style for playing the bass guitar by incorporating it into pop music.-Early life:King was brought up on the Isle of Wight,...
, Mike Lindup
Mike Lindup
Mike Lindup is best known as the keyboard player and falsetto voiced singer, who joined with Mark King and brothers Phil and Boon Gould to form the 1980s - 1990s British funk/rock/pop band, Level 42....
and Gary Husband
Gary Husband
Gary Husband is a British jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer.- Short biography:Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer...
plus a guitarist, but was less clear on the latter's identity - inlay photos featured Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
while cover artwork featured Jakko Jakszyk
Jakko Jakszyk
Jakko M. Jakszyk is an English guitarist, singer-songwriter , multi-instrumentalist and producer...
. In practise, Holdsworth (who had played with the band during its recent London residency at the Hammersmith Apollo) only contributed electric guitar solos to five of the album's songs in the studio - "Seven Years", "A Kinder Eye
A Kinder Eye
"A Kinder Eye" is a song written by Mark King and George M. Green dedicated to the memory of Frances Robblee, George Green's mother-in-law.The song was launched in 1991, in the album Guaranteed, album of studio of the British musical group Level 42. The Music speaks about a painter widow, that...
", "She Can't Help Herself", "If You Were Mine" and "With A Little Love". Band associate Dominic Miller
Dominic Miller
Dominic Miller is an Argentine-English guitarist who toured and recorded with World Party and King Swamp, worked on Phil Collins' solo album ...But Seriously and played guitar on every Sting album and tour since 1990...
contributed all rhythm guitar work (as he had done for Staring at the Sun
Staring at the Sun (Level 42 album)
Staring at the Sun is the eighth studio album released by the British pop band Level 42, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse by Kevin...
). Jakszyk (formerly with 64 Spoons
64 Spoons
64 Spoons were a British rock/pop band active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, who utilised strong elements of progressive rock, jazz-fusion, punk energy and performance comedy...
and a top session guitarist) played no part in recording the album, but was hired for touring and promotional work and hence featured in the album artwork and the promotional video clips for "Guaranteed", "Overtime" and "My Father's Shoes".
Due to Mike Lindup's absence from many of the sessions, a high proportion of the keyboard parts for Guaranteed were played by drummer Gary Husband (including the piano solo on "Her Big Day") although Lindup would later overdub solos. Husband would also expand his songwriting contribution, including writing the song ("If You Were Mine" on his own. Husband would leave Level 42 following this album (to be replaced by the band's original drummer Phil Gould
Phil Gould (musician)
Philip Gabriel Gould, also known as Phil Gould is a British professional drummer, song writer, and singer from the Isle of Wight in southern England...
) although he would return to the band in 1999.
The single "Guaranteed" placed 17th in the UK single charts in 1991 and had two versions of its music video produced. The song "A Kinder Eye" was dedicated to the memory of Frances Robblee, the mother-in-law of lyricist George M. Green.
Track listing
- "Guaranteed" (Lindup / Husband / King / Badarou) – 4:51
- "Overtime" (Lindup / King / Barfield) – 4:47
- "Her Big Day" (Lindup / Husband, King / Barfield / Badarou) – 5:09
- "Seven Years" (King) – 4:42
- "Set Me Up" (Lindup / King / Barfield) – 4:28
- "The Ape" (King / Green) – 4:17
- "My Father's Shoes" (Lindup / King / Green / Badarou) – 5:14
- "A Kinder EyeA Kinder Eye"A Kinder Eye" is a song written by Mark King and George M. Green dedicated to the memory of Frances Robblee, George Green's mother-in-law.The song was launched in 1991, in the album Guaranteed, album of studio of the British musical group Level 42. The Music speaks about a painter widow, that...
" (King / Green) – 5:45 - "She Can't Help Herself" (Lindup / King / Barfield) – 5:00
- "If You Were Mine" (Husband) – 5:01
- "Lasso the Moon" (Lindup / Green) – 4:02
- "With a Little Love" (Husband / King) – 4:07
Album charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK album charts | #3 |
Single charts
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Guaranteed" | UK single charts | #17 |
| 1991 | "Overtime" | UK single charts | #62 |
| 1992 | "My Father's Shoes" | UK single charts | #55 |
Personnel
- Mark KingMark King (musician)Mark King is an English musician. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist of the band, Level 42. In the early 1980s King popularized the 1970s-era slap and pop style for playing the bass guitar by incorporating it into pop music.-Early life:King was brought up on the Isle of Wight,...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mike LindupMike LindupMike Lindup is best known as the keyboard player and falsetto voiced singer, who joined with Mark King and brothers Phil and Boon Gould to form the 1980s - 1990s British funk/rock/pop band, Level 42....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals - Gary HusbandGary HusbandGary Husband is a British jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer.- Short biography:Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Allan HoldsworthAllan HoldsworthAllan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Wally BadarouWally BadarouWally Badarou is a musician from Benin.-Biography:A synthesiser specialist, Badarou was the longtime associate of the British band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop, soul and rock...
– keyboards, backing vocals - Annie McCaig – vocals
- Dominic MillerDominic MillerDominic Miller is an Argentine-English guitarist who toured and recorded with World Party and King Swamp, worked on Phil Collins' solo album ...But Seriously and played guitar on every Sting album and tour since 1990...
– guitars - Gary BarnacleGary BarnacleGary Barnacle is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work Gary Barnacle (born 1959, Dover, England) is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work...
– saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s - John ThirkellJohn ThirkellJohn Thirkell is a British trumpet and flugelhorn player, who has appeared on hundreds of pop, rock, and jazz recordings. Through the 1980s and early 1990s he was on at least one album in the UK Charts continuously, without a break, for over 13 years...
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s